Email

To be fair, no government can be expected to work miracles within weeks of coming to power. That is why Imran Khan’s request at a meeting with a number of anchorpersons at Prime Minister House in Islamabad — that his government be given three months before its performance is criticised — is not unreasonable.

Among the issues discussed were: the accountability of PTI leaders; the use of official helicopters by the Punjab chief minister’s family; the altercation between the First Lady’s former husband and DPO Pakpattan that resulted in the latter’s transfer; and unseemly remarks by the Punjab information minister against a theatre star. The prime minister assured the media persons that there would be a perceptible difference in how the country was run in three months’ time.

The prime minister has a point, to some extent. There are many areas of governance in Pakistan that require major systemic reform. Sound policies are needed, and these will only show incremental results over time. For example, Finance Minister Asad Umar has said it may take up to three years to stabilise Pakistan’s deteriorating financial situation.

Shrill denunciations are not going to hasten the process. Thus it is only fitting that the new administration, barely two weeks into its term, be cut some slack over policy matters in the initial few months. However, that does not mean the media should turn a blind eye to the missteps and avoidable mistakes made by the government in the meantime. After all, while PTI has come into power at the centre for the first time, it has led the KP government for the last five years and should have a grip on what is required to avoid kerfuffles that only provide fodder for naysayers and distract from the larger picture.

The actions and utterances of those occupying some of the top government posts have come in for valid criticism. So has PTI’s stated intention to overhaul media regulation — the federal information minister used that loaded word, ‘censorship’ — a move denounced by various journalist bodies.

Such missteps have taken away from some of the positives: for example, the government has lifted political censorship from all state-run media outlets, and some of its appointees to important posts are competent individuals. The media must be a watchdog for public interest, but a balanced one, at the same time.

On DawnNews

Comments (26) Closed

JA-Australia

Sep 03, 2018 08:12am

Balanced editorial.

PTI officials should know that the media will hold them to a higher standard of behavior, because the public expects them to behave better, but it should not suck up all the media oxygen to the detriment of major issues facing the country.

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Omer

Sep 03, 2018 11:17am

While he was giving dharna within 3 months of the previous government!!

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Javed Abid

Sep 03, 2018 11:59am

Irresponsible Media has to mature and support a patriotic Government.

Pakistan Media and people should learn some lessons from the Indian Media. Indian Media supports their Governments even for their wrong doings.

It takes time to undo wrongs done by NS, Z and other governments over the past 30 years plus. Let us be reasonable.

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Warracih

Sep 03, 2018 01:05pm

Excellent piece of article.

There is no doubt that a 'new-born' government should be given some time. As rightly said by Hassan Nisar, 'PTI should be given some time. At least the same number of weeks as the number of years Nawaz Sharif remained in power'.

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Abid

Sep 03, 2018 02:23pm

Sorry but beating a man in Karachi by an mpa elect, helicopter gaffe that it's 55 rs per km cost, foul language by info minister from punjab aren't issues requiring 3 months. They shouldn't have occurred from the very outset. Imran khan should know his govt is under the microscope just like he did with previous govt.

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MSA

Sep 03, 2018 02:27pm

@Warracih Actually the same number of months, as number of years for Nawaz.

A very reasonable & fair demand of 3 months of time by IK government. The new IK government is on a steep learning curve and I am afraid that the 3 months may not be adequate and since I support the demand strongly; would refrain from pointing out the faux pas and errors committed in such a short time. Whosoever loves Pakistan should allow the current government to learn from small errors that are happening because I see IK coming in with genuine intentions to serve Pakistan.

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Jalaluddin S. Hussain

Sep 03, 2018 06:42pm

The following points seemed to be made makes a lot of sense:

The new government should be given time to clean the stables and the media should continue looking after the missteps of the new governments.

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Faisal

Sep 03, 2018 07:32pm

Please make Cyril read this editorial.

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Sanam

Sep 03, 2018 08:49pm

Looking at his promises, 30 years will be less! Worried about difficult time for us from start. Politicians become realistic after winning election, forget what was promised.

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khan

Sep 03, 2018 10:06pm

@Javed Abid "It takes time to undo wrongs done by NS, Z and other governments over the past 30 years plus. Let us be reasonable."

But that is not what IK said before the elections. He promised to fix everything in 100 days. Now that he is the PM and he has the support of the umpire, which is unprecedented in this country's political history, he better deliver on them

Why should the media start beating on the horse before he even gets up on its four feet? Unless of course it is biased and wants the horse to fail at all costs.

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Mohini Kutir

Sep 04, 2018 02:20am

Sensible criticism, balanced with understanding the reality of systemic inertia, will go a long way in nurturing the fragile democracy in Pakistan. One simple and very affective means to help I still trust is to publish the mandate given to each ministerial appointment or advisory committee. That way media can judge if a department or a committee is living up to the expectations of the PM or the public. Criticism without appreciation will discourage the best civic leaders.

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Mohini Kutir

Sep 04, 2018 02:26am

@Abid - you are absolutely right. Self-control and good public conduct, needs to be practiced by all. A simple apology would also be helpful and keep the leaders humble.

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skz

Sep 04, 2018 05:04am

@Abid 55rs per kilometer is not a big deal.. The car may cost less of coarse but cover more miles to reach from point A to Point B and it also uses fuel not water. Bottom line is there may not be much difference in costs to make a big criticism. At least it is not used to transport a meal or something useless.

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Imran Khan

Sep 04, 2018 06:29am

All the best PTI

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kamran khalid

Sep 04, 2018 06:48am

Should I laugh or should I cry?
Imran never fails to amuse me with his over the top requests.

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Ayesha Sadozai

Sep 04, 2018 08:06am

Excuse me but I disagree. The media has it's own duty to report and analyze/criticize events as they develop while the government must do it's own duty. How is the media expected to 'suspend' it's role for 3 months? Have you ever heard any elected government in any democratic nation ever making a similar, absurd demand?

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auginpk

Sep 04, 2018 09:55am

The 3 month moratorium is unreasonable. It is a competition. And anything that is unreasonable should be brought out by media.

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Parvez

Sep 04, 2018 11:51am

If your view is that the Pm's request is not unreasonable, then please please abide with your view.

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Laeeq

Sep 04, 2018 03:59pm

70 years of Kachra can’t be cleaned overnight. It need lot of effort to change the mind set of the beurocracy and the seasoned politicians who have joined the PTI government. As long as Head of the state remains determined, things will definitely change. Patience is the key.

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Be Positive

Sep 05, 2018 04:42am

Our problem is we expect too much and we want it too fast, we think negative than positive, we personally don’t want to join efforts to bring change toward success, A leader can’t change the country until and unless nation work together in bringing changes, everyone is responsible, specially writers those spread words on media, because you are more responsible to create a harmony or chaos. there are certain points you may need to consider before spreading doubts and your own imagination, I would like to see some positive thinking here too, IK is just born my dear, give him some space. In my point of view let him work and support him at this moment, instead of creating doubts in reader mind, Journalist have more responsibility, what if IK able to do good for Pakistan, will all those media people will accept openly on public forums? does these writer and columnist are brave enough to accept the criticism too? Is in it we all have to gather on one plateform and bring change.

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ABDULLAH

Sep 05, 2018 06:07am

@Javed Abid
I fully support your comments Our Media should be ashamed of themselves

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skz

Sep 05, 2018 09:09am

@Ayesha Sadozai He is just asking not to criticize for not able to fix whatever he is promising, so soon. That's all. Otherwise the opposition leaders will not let him breathe and will abuse the media against him. Media should take some responsibility too for the betterment process of the country.